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Travel, Dance, Minimalism (Some poetry, some books, some art)

Month: March 2015

I went to bed at 7 PM, which was great at the time, given how incredibly tired from 21 hours of travel I was (SERIOUSLY Fargo needs a direct flight to New York, that would be amazing).

So now it’s 3 AM and I feel well rested.

ANYWAYS. I am officially in the Caribbean, Southside of the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo). Had a nice conversation with my taxi driver in stunted Spanish, with a lot of over-exaggerated facial expressions and gestures. My Spanish classes start tomorrow at ICC Language Institute.

I am staying about 30 seconds away from the ocean, with a host family consisting of Doña Christina, her daughter, and 3 grandkids.

Doña Christina speaks no English, and she’s the one I’ve been communicating with mostly. I don’t speak Spanish very well, but usually I can get my point across. I really really like her, despite the language barrier… Can’t wait till we can actually talk fluidly. I told her I’d make her pizza, but dangit, I didn’t bring any pizza spice 😦 . Could be difficult. I think after these four weeks are done, I will be at level two or three. I’m about halfway through level one, WHICH MEANS.

I can once in a while get past tense right, or I can say that I am going to do something. But other than that I have to speak almost completely in present tense.

I don’t have house keys yet, and I THINK she said I will have them tomorrow. Not too sure about that.

If I walk around I can hear Bachata music freaking everywhere and I love that.

There aren’t really buses here. According to this website, basically what I have to do is flag down a mini-van called a Guagua. I am scared to do that, because my Spanish is so so so so poor right now.

It would take about a half hour to walk to my language school. But I’m awake anyways, so I could conceivably go, and watch the sunrise from the beach (if I don’t get hit by a car.) But then I still need to get back at the end of the day. Hmm. I guess I’ll wait till the Doña wakes up, and ask her. I need keys ASAP. Necesito los llaves.

I’m not doing too badly though, the other girl I rode with in the taxi who is also going to this school only knows “Hola.” I hope she makes it tomorrow.

In two days I’ll be in the Dominican Republic. I’ll be studying at Instituto Intercultural del Caribe (IIC) in Santo Domingo. Spanish in the mornings and dance class in the afternoon.YES.Going somewhere completely solo is a bit scary.

One of my favorite favorite authors just died… Terry Pratchett. Read his Bromeliad trilogy when I was a kid, many multiples of times. He just opened up the world.

“There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who, when presented with a glass that is exactly half full, say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What’s up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don’t think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!”

– from The Truth

The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they’ve found it.

there are so many things I can’t wait to introduce to my eventual-kid(s). Rumi. Bollywood dancing. Bachata. BOOKS! Spring after winter…. Snow! Sledding! Swimming! I can’t imagine being that young… where everything is new.

The Music We Are

Did you hear that winter is over?The basil and carnation cannot control their laughter.

The nightingale, back from his wandering,has been made singing master over all the birds.The trees reach out their congratulations.

The soul goes dancing through the king’s doorway.Anemones blush because they have seen the rose naked.

Spring, the only fair judge, walks in the courtroom,and several December thieves steal away.

Last year’s miracles will soon be forgotten.New creatures whirl in from nonexistence,galaxies scattered around their feet.

Have you met them?Do you hear the bud of Jesus crooning in the cradle?

A single narcissus flower has been appointedInspector of Kingdoms. A feast is set.Listen. The wind is pouring wine.

Love used to hide inside images. No more.The orchard hangs out its lanterns.

The dead come stumbling by in shrouds. Nothing can stay bound or be imprisoned.

You say, End this poem here, and wait for what is next.I will. Poems are rough notations for the music we are.

So I’m not much of a cook, but I cook homemade pizza almost every weekend, and I thought I’d share my recipe. Every time I make it, it’s a little different, I just layer whatever vegetables I have on hand… but this is my most recent concoction. You can also use meat, although I haven’t experimented with that. I get my pizza spice from Tochi, here in Fargo.

So!1st layer – either premade pizza crust, or rolled out dough that has been prebaked.2nd layer- pizza sauce (or any type of tomato sauce). You can also blend it with salsa, or cream cheese, and some pizza spice.3rd layer – eggplant, thinly sliced (think pepperoni type-slices.)4th layer – zucchini, thinly sliced again (as per the above picture).5th layer – pizza spice and garlic salt (sprinkle it on liberally, I use a lot, I love pizza spice)6th layer – shredded cheese7th layer – eggplant! (I love eggplant, the more layers, the better)8th layer – zucchini again9th layer – mushrooms (check with your guests, you might need to do a portion of mushroom-free pizza) drizzle some olive oil over the mushrooms as well.10th layer – diced green pepper11th layer – pineapple12th layer – cheese again13th layer – whatever leftover vegetables you have, minced up.14th layer – pizza spice, a bit more cheese if you want, and a good drizzle of olive oil.

Usually the dough will have instructions, but you’ll want to bake the pizza for longer than stated, since there are SO MANY layers. You can use whatever vegetables you want! I like olives on it too, but I forgot them this time. This recipe fed five people, with about a third of the pizza left over for lunch the next day.